Abstract:
A mathematical model for the transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) has been proposed. The limited epidemiological data of SARS
reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from three countries, Hong
Kong, Singapore and Taiwan has been analyzed. A Di®erential Evolution (DE)
algorithm was used to estimate the parameters in the model for the spread
of the disease among the di®erent population groups in the three countries.
The e®ective quarantine and isolation measures to prevent and control the
transmission of this disease were illustrated by comparing the changes in the
number of people in four population groups and di®erent values for the level of
quarantine measures, isolation measures, infection under quarantine and isolation
measures, and transmission rate. This study assumed that the total populations
were closed, i.e., there was no immigration or emigration during the study. Our
computer simulations support the hypothesis that su±cient and e±cient levels of
quarantine and isolation measures could prevent and control the spread of SARS.